Method for obtaining products with high iron content from iron ore fines and biomass, and said products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a product with high iron content with high physical and metallurgical performance for use in reduction furnaces (blast furnaces and direct reduction furnaces) and melting furnaces (smelters, melters and electric arc furnaces) for sustainable iron and steel production. The method comprises mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts, and carrying out the subsequent steps of grinding, agglomeration, heat treatment, solid-solid separation and coating.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention is within the field of mineral / metallurgical technology and relates to a method for obtaining high performance products from iron ore fines and renewable carbon sources from biomass, which allows obtaining products with high iron content with high physical and metallurgical performance for use in reduction furnaces (blast furnaces and direct reduction furnaces) and melting furnaces (melters and electric arc furnaces) for sustainable steel production. [Background technology]

[0002] The development of agglomeration technology arose from the need to recover fine particles, allowing their commercial use and minimizing the environmental impact caused by the production of fine particles or particulate matter.

[0003] The most frequent application of the agglomeration process is Use of fine-grained concentrates or ores without damaging the permeability of the load and the gas-solid reaction conditions in the metallurgical furnace; Utilizing waste or fine by-products from other mineral / metallurgical processes for reuse or recycling in an appropriate manner; and - Utilizing waste metals (copper, iron, titanium) and other materials (paper, cotton, wood) for transport or recycling This is carried out for the purpose.

[0004] The agglomeration operation of iron ore and its partially or fully reduced compounds aims to give the load fed to the reduction furnace and / or smelter a suitable shape and mechanical resistance suitable for the countercurrent of the downward solid load and the heating gas and / or the upward reducer, as well as for the transport, storage and ensiling processes, before being charged to the reduction furnace and smelter for the production of pig iron or steel. The most common agglomeration processes of iron ore and its reduction products used as charge to reduction furnaces and smelters in the steel industry are sintering and pelletizing in the case of iron oxide and briquetting in the case of iron oxide and metallic iron (DRI).

[0005] Pelletization is the newest agglomeration process, which arose from the need to use fine concentrates of magnetite from certain iron ores. Iron ore pellets are produced by agglomeration of particles less than 45 μm in size in a disk or rotating drum to form pellets of 8 to 16 mm. The material to be agglomerated must be kept at a constant humidity and have a high specific surface area (2000 cm2). 2 / g). These pellets are typically hardened by heat treatment and used as blast furnace feed or in direct reduction. This hardening process is energy-intensive as well as having high capital costs.

[0006] Briquetting uses binder-assisted compression to agglomerate fine particles to obtain a compacted product with the right shape, size and mechanical parameters. The mixture of fine particles and binder is compressed to obtain an agglomerate called a briquette, which must be suitable for stacking, further processing (hardening, drying or calcining), transportation, handling, and use in metallurgical reactors. In addition to the technical advantages, the reduced volume of the feedstock allows the fine feedstock to be transported and stored cost-effectively.

[0007] Due to increasing environmental concerns and stringent legislation, as well as the need to utilize waste and fines generated from ore processing in a cost-effective manner, briquetting has become an important alternative for agglomerating fines and adding economic value to them.

[0008] If the material to be agglomerated does not have the ability to resist compression and impact after being compressed, briquetting is carried out using a binder. The pressures used are usually low to avoid further fragmentation of the particles. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a product with high physical and metallurgical performance, the product may be agglomerated or non-agglomerated. The product obtained from the present invention is produced from a mixture of iron ore fines (including tailings, pre-reduced and metallized), biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts. If the product is agglomerated, the agglomeration process may occur by pelletizing on a pelletizing disk or drum, by briquetting or by extrusion.

[0010] The carbothermal reduction process used in the present invention consists of a chemical process of oxide reduction using CO (carbon monoxide) gas generated from a material containing the element carbon, traditionally in the "form" of mineral coal, coke or charcoal.

[0011] The prior art contains several carbothermal reduction techniques based on the carbothermal reduction of iron ore agglomerates (pellets, briquettes, extrudates) using coal, charcoal or coal coke with high participation of organic and inorganic binders (especially tar, cement, silicates, asphalt, starch) with the aim of offering a minimum physical resistance to handling (usually under weathering conditions) and the thermochemical requirements of the process in which they are used. Most of these technologies aim at recycling waste materials with high iron and / or carbon content (e.g. scales, screening fines, process exhaust powders, fines recovered in dedusting systems and thickener sludges). Self-reducing agglomerates are used in conventional reduction furnaces such as small / medium blast furnaces and reduction-fusion furnaces (e.g. Tecnored, ITmk3, Hi-sarna and Fastmet). The heat provided for the direct reduction and carbon gasification reactions (solution losses at temperatures above 850°C) is provided in conventional furnaces by combustion of solid fuels (coke, coal, biomass) and by combustion of gases (LPG, NG, gases generated in the steel process such as coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, steelmaking gas, etc.).

[0012] By using microwaves instead of conventional furnaces where solid fuels and greenhouse gas emitting gases are used, the present invention minimizes problems such as high binder usage, long time required for product reduction, poor tolerance to contact with water, high dust generation due to transportation and handling, high dust generation due to thermal shock, contamination of the product with undesirable components from some binders, etc. The present invention introduces a simplified process of unit operations which reduces CAPEX and OPEX costs.

[0013] In particular, the present invention provides a great advantage in Route 3 compared to the prior art documents, namely, there is no prior agglomeration of a large amount of base mixture, which can significantly reduce process costs (CAPEX and OPEX). There is no technology in the prior art that can industrially carry out carbothermal reduction without considering the prior agglomeration of the mixture of iron ore fines and biomass. Therefore, the present invention is highly innovative, showing high reduction efficiency (metallic iron content >50%, as shown in Figure 5).

[0014] Compared to the processes typically used in industry, the present invention: The possibility of using different sources of iron ore fines (sinter feed, pellet feed and / or ultra-fine tailings); The possibility of using different types of biomass, including pyrolyzed and non-pyrolyzed biomass; The physical and metallurgical qualities of the resulting products allow a wide range of applications in reduction and melting furnaces; - It is an important alternative technology that can provide commercial and strategic benefits to companies and their customers; The flexibility of the process route allows us to offer our steel customers a BF route that extends the life of their assets and reduces CAPEX, without compromising the achievement of their short- and mid-term CO2 emission reduction targets; Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the steel production chain are reduced; Cost savings due to the possibility of reducing the consumption of binder for agglomeration and the possibility of using more ores with high silica content and low iron content (which may be concentrated in a subsequent stage by magnetic separation, since the material resulting from the reduction of hematite is magnetic or strongly paramagnetic). This brings many other advantages.

[0015] Object of the invention The invention aims to offer steel customers a new way to obtain a high iron product with high process route adaptability, extending the useful life of their assets and reducing CAPEX, without compromising the achievement of CO2 emission reduction targets.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to obtain products from biomass and iron ore fines that have excellent physical and metallurgical properties and can be widely applied in reduction furnaces and smelting furnaces.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the environmental burden resulting from the replacement of natural gas and mine coal with biomass and the reduction of iron oxides, which allows to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the steel production chain and allows the utilization of iron ore tailings, which usually have an ultrafine fraction that is disposed of in tailings dams.

[0018] Summary of the Invention As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a method for obtaining a high iron product from iron ore fines and a renewable carbon source derived from biomass, comprising the following steps: a) mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binder, nanomaterials, additives and catalyst in an intensive mixer; b) carrying out at least one step selected from the group consisting of agglomeration and carbothermal reduction; c) carrying out at least one step selected from the group consisting of solid-solid separation, carbothermal reduction and agglomeration A method is disclosed that includes:

[0019] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention further comprises the following steps: a) performing at least one step selected from the group consisting of drying / curing and coating formation; b) performing a carbothermal reduction; c) forming a coating may also include

[0020] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for obtaining metallized and pre-reduced iron ore products and iron ore briquettes containing biomass by microwave carbothermal reduction according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the microwave oven used in the bench-scale carbothermal reduction test runs (Routes 2 and 3). [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows images of non-agglomerated base mixture samples before and after the carbothermal reduction step, their total magnetization and the morphology of the resulting metal residues. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the residual mass after reduction and the metallic iron content of the carbothermal reduction residue in Routes 2 and 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows the metallic iron content obtained in relation to the microwave irradiation time (power: 1.0 kW) and the amount of carbon contained in the base mixture before carbothermal reduction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows the metallic iron content obtained in relation to the specific energy (Gj / t product) and the amount of carbon contained in the base mixture before carbothermal reduction in the microwave oven. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows the XRD results of the residues obtained after carbothermal reduction (Routes 2 and 3) of the agglomerated and non-agglomerated base mixture preparations, as well as the total iron content of the iron component of the base mixture before carbothermal reduction. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the XRD results of the residue obtained after carbothermal reduction of the residual sludge formulation of non-agglomerated iron ore concentrate (route 3) as well as the total iron content of the iron component of the base mixture before carbothermal reduction. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a semi-industrial microwave oven used in a carbothermal reduction process, in this case where the base mixture is used as the feedstock (route 3). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] While the invention is susceptible to various embodiments, preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings and described in the specification, under the understanding that the present disclosure is considered as an example of the principles of the invention, but it is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

[0023] Because the materials and methods disclosed herein can be configured in different details and procedures without departing from the scope of the invention, the requirements of the present invention are detailed below for illustrative purposes and are not exhaustive. Unless otherwise specified, all parts and percentages disclosed below are by weight.

[0024] The present invention relates to a method for obtaining high iron products, as shown in the flow chart of Figure 1, which preferably starts with mixing at least 60% by weight of iron ore fines, up to 30% by weight of biomass, up to 15% by weight of binder, up to 15% by weight of nanomaterials, up to 15% by weight of chemical additives and catalyst. More specifically, up to 20% by weight of biomass, preferably pyrolyzed biomass, can be used. This base mixture is carried out in an intensive mixer.

[0025] Examples of raw materials that can be used as a source of iron ore fines include sintered raw materials, pelleted raw materials, and ultrafine iron ore tailings. The grain size of the raw materials is preferably less than 10 mm, d90 is 10 μm to 8 mm, and the maximum moisture is 25%. The chemical composition is preferably characterized by Fe (total Fe): 30 to 68%, SiO2: 0.5 to 15%, Al2O3: 0.1 to 5.0%, P: 0.001 to 0.1%, Mn: 0.1 to 2%, and calcination loss: 0.1 to 10%.

[0026] The biomass used can come from various sources, such as residues of eucalyptus, elephant grass, sugarcane bagasse, other biomass and residues, etc. The biomass preferably has the following chemical composition: ash: 0.5-25.0%, volatile matter: 1-80%, sulfur: less than 1%, and fixed carbon: 20-80%. Biomass can also be used in pyrolyzed form, also called biocarbon.

[0027] Binders used include, for example, sodium silicate (solid and liquid form), pre-gelatinized cassava or corn starch, plant resins, polymers, and geopolymers. Binders are used with chemical catalysts and nanomaterials to form an additive binder mixture.

[0028] Chemical catalysts such as Ca, K, Na, Ni, Si, W, etc. can be used to increase the rate of carbothermal reduction and to improve the homogeneity of microwave agglomeration heating.

[0029] The nanomaterials used may in particular be selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, exfoliated graphite, functionalized microsilicates, tubular nanosilica, tubular halloysite, carbon nanofibers, graphene.

[0030] The chemical additives used in the coating process can be based on C, Al, Ni, ferruginous kaolinite or other highly reducible materials such as bauxite, alumina, polymers, latex, etc. Calcium and dolomite based fluxing agents can also be used as additives, if required, as raw materials in the production of self-reducing briquettes (route 1).

[0031] As shown in the flow chart of Figure 1, after the intensive mixing step, the material following route 1 is preferably subjected to an agglomeration step. The material is preferably agglomerated by a mechanical process (briquetting, extrusion or pelletizing) which provides sufficient green strength for handling, screening and drying / curing.

[0032] Alternatively, the base mixture obtained in the intensive mixer may be subjected to a grinding step in order to increase the specific surface area and the adhesion between particles. Grinding is preferably carried out by pressing in various amounts (partial or complete) using a roller press, roller crusher or other grinding equipment.

[0033] After the agglomeration step, the material is preferably subjected to a granulometric classification step, preferably screening, so that the undersize (fraction less than 5 mm) returns to the intensive mixer and the oversize (fraction greater than 5 mm) goes to the drying / hardening step. In order to provide sufficient strength for handling, storage, transport and use by top entry in blast furnaces, the drying / hardening is preferably carried out in a manner such that excess moisture is removed and hardening of the binder contained is carried out at temperatures between 240 and 400° C. in a dryer, microwave oven or conventional oven by burning gas (including the burning of synthesis gas produced from the gasification of biomass).

[0034] The agglomerated products obtained by this route are considered self-reducing agglomerates and have a carbon content of about 6-20% and a total iron content of 40-60%.

[0035] Also, as shown in the flow chart of Figure 1, after the intensive mixing step, the material following route 2 may be subjected to an agglomeration step. Preferably, the material is agglomerated by a mechanical process (briquetting, extrusion or pelletizing).

[0036] Alternatively, in order to increase the specific surface area and the adhesion between particles, the mixture obtained in the intensive mixer may be subjected to a grinding step, which is preferably carried out by pressing in various amounts (partial or complete) using a roller press, roller crusher or other grinding equipment.

[0037] After the agglomeration step, the material is preferably subjected to a carbothermal reduction step in a microwave oven or other type of oven until a temperature of 500° C. to 950° C. is reached, depending on the intended degree of reduction, from the general prevalent formation of magnetite and / or maghemite to total or near total metallization of the iron oxides present in the base mixture. Optionally, the carbothermal reduction may be carried out at 500° C. to 800° C.

[0038] Microwave reduction can be carried out in equipment with a power output of 0.6 kW to 10 kW at a frequency of 2450 MHz, up to 100 kW at a frequency of 915 MHz, and on a larger scale it can be a multiple of these power outputs. Microwave equipment similar to the equipment described in patent documents BR102020012185-5 and BR102019023195-5 can be used, preferably one that presents a reduction and inert gas containment system of a carbothermal reduction chamber for inert gas injection, as shown in Figure 2. The inert gas used preferably consists of nitrogen gas (N2).

[0039] After the carbothermal reduction step, the material is subjected to a coating formation step with the aim of avoiding reoxidation of the agglomerate surface layer by atmospheric oxygen, improving the physical resistance and improving weather resistance.

[0040] Optionally, an agglomeration step (briquetting, extrusion or pelletizing) may be carried out prior to the coating step. The briquetting step may be carried out cold or warm and, if necessary, additional binders may be used.

[0041] The agglomerated products obtained via route 2 of the invention are indicated as alternatives of high chemical, physical and metallurgical quality for use in reduction furnaces and smelting furnaces, such as blast furnaces (BF) and electric arc furnaces (EAF). Such agglomerated products have diameters of 8 to 150 mm, various shapes, a total iron content of more than 60% and a carbon content of less than 5%. When aiming to obtain agglomerates to be used in BF, the raw materials and process parameters are used so as to obtain a final agglomerate with a total iron content of 60 to 95%. When aiming to obtain agglomerates to be used in EAF, the raw materials and process parameters are used so as to obtain agglomerates with a metallic iron content of more than 85%.

[0042] Also, after the intensive mixing step, the material following route 3 is preferably subjected directly to a carbothermal reduction step in a microwave oven, as shown in the flow chart of Figure 1. As with route 2, the microwave reduction can be carried out in equipment with a power output of 0.6 kW to 10 kW at a frequency of 2450 MHz, up to 100 kW at a frequency of 915 MHz, and multiples of these power outputs on a larger scale.

[0043] Optionally, the base mixture may be subjected to a grinding step, which is preferably carried out in various amounts (partially or completely) by pressing using a roller press, roller crusher or other grinding equipment.

[0044] After the carbothermal reduction step, the material may or may not be disaggregated, depending on the physical conditions under which the product leaves the microwave oven. Subsequent steps consist of a solid-solid separation step aimed at increasing the iron concentration, which may consist of magnetic or gravitational separation. The resulting concentrate with low iron content is returned to the intensive mixer, while the concentrate with high iron content is subjected to subsequent steps.

[0045] Powdered concentrates containing high iron content are highly metallized materials (total iron content: 60%-85%) with ideal properties for use in smelters or other melting furnaces and can therefore be considered as already corresponding to commercially available end products.

[0046] Optionally, the concentrate with a high iron content may be subjected to an agglomeration process, which may be carried out cold or warm, and may use additional binders if necessary. Agglomeration can provide a product with a particle size and high density suitable for transportation and handling, as well as increased protection against oxidation by the ambient atmosphere.

[0047] The agglomerates are then subjected to a coating formation process, similar to route 2, in such a way as to prevent reoxidation of the agglomerate surface layer by atmospheric oxygen and to improve its physical resistance and weather resistance.

[0048] Optionally, the material fed to the agglomeration step may be fed directly from the carbothermal reduction, depending on the material properties after microwave reduction.

[0049] Similar to route 2, the agglomerates obtained via route 3 of the invention are indicated as an alternative of high chemical, physical and metallurgical quality for use in reduction furnaces (smelting furnaces such as blast furnaces (BF) and electric arc furnaces (EAF)). The agglomerates obtained via route 3 have a total iron content of more than 60%. When aiming to obtain agglomerates to be used in BF, the raw materials and process parameters are used so as to obtain a final reduced agglomerate with a total iron content of 60-95%. When aiming to obtain agglomerates to be used in EAF, the raw materials and process parameters are used so as to obtain a final metallized agglomerate with a metallic iron content of more than 85%.

[0050] Concerning the fulfillment of physical quality specifications, the agglomerates were subjected to laboratory tests to evaluate their mechanical strength. The parameters evaluated were abrasion resistance (products showed results below 25%), drum resistance (above 75%), impact / drop resistance (above 75%) and compressive strength (above 150 daN, after drying and exposure to water). Concerning chemical and metallurgical quality, tests were carried out to evaluate the degree of metallization, whether metallized (above 50%) or concentrated (0 and 10%), at levels depending on the raw material and the purpose.

[0051] Figure 3 shows images of samples before and after the carbothermal reduction step obtained according to route 3, showing the morphology of the formation of metallic iron after the reduction of the mixture by microwaves. According to figures 5 and 6, the obtained results show that for a base mixture with a carbon content of about 20%, the metallic iron content of non-agglomerates and agglomerates (according to route 2) is between 50 and 80%. EXAMPLES

[0052] In order to evaluate the quality and performance of the product obtained through Route 3 of the present invention, 76% by mass of iron ore fines (Fe T >64.5%, particle size <325# and 24% by mass of pulverized coal from eucalyptus pyrolysis (C fixed >75%, particle size <1.0 mm) and homogenized in an intensive mixer (C fixed The experiment was carried out at 20°C (20%). The carbothermal reduction was carried out in a microwave oven at a power of 1000 W and a frequency of 2.45 GHz, as shown in Figure 2. The reduction was carried out for 20 minutes in an atmosphere inerted with N2.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, the thin metallized product produced had a metallic iron content of 76.7% and a total iron content of 89.9%, as evident from the XRD results shown in the graph of FIG.

[0054] As described above, only some embodiments of the present invention are shown, but it is assumed that various omissions, substitutions and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not exhaustive.

[0055] It is expressly provided that all combinations of elements that perform the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining high iron products from iron ore fines and biomass, comprising: The following steps: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binder, nanomaterials, additives and catalyst in an intensive mixer; b. performing at least one step selected from the group consisting of agglomeration and carbothermal reduction; c. performing at least one step from the group consisting of solid-solid separation, carbothermal reduction, and agglomeration. A method comprising:

2. The following steps: d. performing at least one step from the group consisting of drying / curing and coating formation. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

3. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after the mixing step, a crushing step can be carried out by pressing using a roller press, a roller crusher or other crushing equipment.

4. The following steps: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binder, nanomaterials, additives and catalyst in an intensive mixer; b. carrying out agglomeration by briquetting, pelletizing or extrusion; c. performing solid-solid separation by screening; d. Drying / curing The method of claim 1 , comprising:

5. The following steps: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binder, nanomaterials, additives and catalyst in an intensive mixer; b. carrying out agglomeration by briquetting, pelletizing or extrusion; c. performing a carbothermal reduction; d. Step of forming a coating The method of claim 1 , comprising:

6. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that after the carbothermal reduction step, an additional agglomeration step can be carried out by briquetting, pelletizing or extrusion.

7. The following steps: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binder, nanomaterials, additives and catalyst in an intensive mixer; b. performing a carbothermal reduction; c. carrying out agglomeration by briquetting, pelletizing or extrusion; d. Step of forming a coating The method of claim 1 , comprising:

8. 8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that after the carbothermal reduction step, a solid-solid separation step can be carried out by magnetic or gravitational separation.

9. The following steps: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binder, nanomaterials, additives and catalyst in an intensive mixer; b. performing a carbothermal reduction; c. Performing solid-solid separation by magnetic or gravitational separation The method of claim 1 , comprising:

10. 10. The method according to claim 7 or 9, characterized in that after the carbothermal reduction step a disintegration step can be carried out.

11. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbothermal reduction is carried out in a microwave oven or a conventional oven at a temperature between 500°C and 950°C.

12. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbothermal reduction is carried out in a microwave oven or a conventional oven at a temperature between 500°C and 950°C.

13. 3. The method of claim 2, characterized in that the drying / curing can be carried out in a microwave oven or a conventional fuel-fired oven at a temperature between 240°C and 400°C.

14. 1. A sintered material having a particle size of less than 10 mm and an iron content of 30-68% (Fe Ｔｏｔａｌ 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least 60% by weight of iron ore fines having a sintering ability is used.

15. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that up to 30% by weight of biomass is used, in particular biomass which may come from residues of eucalyptus trees, elephant grass, sugarcane bagasse, etc.

16. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that up to 20% by weight of biomass is used, in particular biomass which may come from residues of eucalyptus trees, elephant grass, sugarcane bagasse, etc.

17. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass can be used in pyrolyzed form.

18. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass has between 20% and 80% fixed carbon.

19. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that up to 15% by weight of a binder is used, in particular a binder selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, pregelatinized cassava or corn starch, plant resins, polymers, geopolymers.

20. 2. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that up to 15 wt. % of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of Ca, K, Na, Ni, Si and W is used.

21. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that up to 15% by weight of nanomaterials is used, in particular nanomaterials selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, exfoliated graphite, functionalized microsilicates, tubular nanosilica, tubular halloysite, carbon nanofibers, graphene.

22. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that up to 15% by weight of chemical additives is used, in particular chemical additives which may be based on C, Al, Ni, ferruginous kaolinite or other materials with high reducibility, such as bauxite, alumina, polymers, latex, etc.

23. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the chemical additives used may include calcium and dolomite based fluxing agents.

24. A high iron content agglomerated product obtained from iron ore fines and biomass produced by the method of claim 1, characterized in that the agglomerated product has chemical, physical and metallurgical qualities suitable for use in a reduction furnace (blast furnace), a diameter of 8-150 mm, a carbon content of 6-20%, a total iron content of 40-60%, and is considered a self-reducing agglomerate.

25. 10. A high iron content agglomerated product obtained from iron ore fines and biomass produced by the method of claim 1, characterized in that it has chemical, physical and metallurgical qualities suitable for use in reduction and smelting furnaces (e.g. smelting furnaces such as Blast Furnace (BF) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)), has a diameter of 8-150 mm, a total iron content of more than 60%, a carbon content of less than 5%, abrasion resistance of less than 25%, drum resistance of more than 75%, impact / drop resistance of more than 75%, compressive strength of more than 150 daN and a degree of metallization of more than 50%.

26. Agglomerated product according to claim 25, characterized in that the total iron content is between 60 and 95% if the product is intended for use in a blast furnace (BF).

27. 26. Agglomerated product according to claim 25, characterized in that the metallic iron content is greater than 85% when the product is intended for use in an electric arc furnace (EAF).

28. A high iron content product obtained from iron ore fines and biomass produced by the method of claim 1, characterized in that it is in powder form and that it is a highly metallized material (total iron content 60% to 85%) and therefore has chemical, physical and metallurgical qualities suitable for use in smelters and other melting furnaces.

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